Joseph Sand, Pottery

Joseph was born and raised in the small, southern Minnesota town of Austin. He graduated from Austin High School in 2001 and then headed up north to the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Joseph had the opportunity to spend part of his junior year abroad studying art in Cortona, Italy through the University of Georgia-Athens. Early on in his senior year he met his wife, Amanda, at a wedding in Duluth.

At about the same time, Joseph was chosen as one of the recipients of the Katherine E. Sullivan Scholarship through the University of Minnesota. This award allowed him to continue his studies by providing funding for a fifth-year of college education abroad. Joseph used his scholarship money to attend the University of Wolverhampton in Wolverhampton, England.

It was during his time in England that Joseph decided to become a potter. After visiting and spending time with full-time potters, Joseph knew that this was the life for him.

In 2006, Joseph graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in General Studio Art with a ceramics emphasis.

Shortly after graduation, Joseph left for North Carolina where he completed a three and a half year apprenticeship under master potter Mark Hewitt. While finishing his apprenticeship at Hewitt Pottery, Joseph was featured in Craft in America.

In the summer of 2009, Joseph and Amanda purchased a home and property to set up a pottery near Randleman, North Carolina. The pottery is now up and running, and Joseph is making functional and sculptural pottery full-time.

Most recently, Joseph was a recipient of the Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artist Award through the Durham Arts Council, which provided funding towards the construction of the kiln.

Kiln opening sales are held three times each year: spring, summer, and late fall. Otherwise, the pottery is open by appointment only.